This jailed priest kick-started Russian literature in the 17th century

'The Life Written by Himself', authored by Archpriest Avvakum is hardly the most famous work of Russian literature. But this unique autobiography found favor and interest among Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and other great Russian authors. The year is 1654. Plague rages in Russia; furthermore, a total solar eclipse occurs in the same year. The devout priest, Avvakum, perceives these as God's wrath for the church reforms of Patriarch Nikon, whom he regards as an apostate. Avvakum preaches against the reforms and becomes one of the leaders of the Raskol - the splitting of the Russian Orthodox Church and of the Old Believer movement. He is thrown into prison, from where he begins to tell his story...